Mattress outsmarts pressure sores

To avoid the occurrence of and to treat already existing pressure sores, researchers at Fraunhofer IIS, Germany, in collaboration with five partners in the INSYDE research project have succeeded in developing the technological prototype of an intelligent and adaptive mattress. The mattress identifies the patient’s current lying position and suggests a new position to relieve pressure.

On the approval of a professional or caregiver, the shift in the patient’s position is automatically initiated by actuators.

“Like the sensors measuring the pressure distribution, the actuators are embedded in the mattress,” explained Christian Weigand, of Fraunhofer IIS.

“Information on the repositioning and the pressure distribution created in the process will be shown on a display attached to the bed and will be automatically added to existing care documentation,” added Alexander Dürsch of Ergo-Tec.

Fraunhofer IIS recently presented a prototype of the mattress at the MEDICA trade fair in Düsseldorf.